Freedom of the press is a cornerstone of any democratic society, acting as a check on state power and ensuring transparency, especially during times of war. Yet, in the context of Israel’s ongoing conflicts with Iran and Palestine, this fundamental right has come under sustained and systematic attack. The Israeli government’s increasingly aggressive stance toward both local and international journalists during wartime illustrates a troubling trend: using national security as a pretext to silence independent reporting. Censorship by law: a militarized approach to media One of the clearest manifestations of Israel’s press repression is its military censorship regime. In June 2025, amid heightened tensions with Iran, the Israeli military issued new directives under the “Rising Lion” censorship guidelines. These rules forbid journalists from publishing images or reports of missile or drone strike sites without prior approval from military censors. Violators face up to 30 months in prison, making this one

A brutal crackdown on independent journalism deepens as authorities jail anti-corruption reporters and peace activists under trumped-up charges. Azerbaijan has once again confirmed its reputation as one of the most repressive countries for journalists. Ranked 167th out of 180 countries in the World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders, it is also the 10th worst jailer of journalists globally, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. President Ilham Aliyev has led a relentless campaign to eliminate dissenting voices, dismantling what little media pluralism once existed. Since 2014, his government has orchestrated a sustained crackdown against independent journalism, culminating in a new and especially brutal wave of repression that began in November 2023. A silent media landscape Today, nearly all media in Azerbaijan is state controlled. There is no independent television or radio broadcasting within the country, and all critical newspapers have been shut down. The few remaining independent media

Honduras is experiencing a prolonged and profound crisis in press freedom, set within a complex social context for Latin America. The murder of journalist Javier Antonio Hércules Salinas, which took place on June 1, 2025, not only shocked the country’s journalistic community but also exposed the deadly risks faced by media workers in an environment marked by impunity, corruption, and structural violence. A foretold death Javier Antonio Hércules Salinas, host of the Facebook news program A Todo Noticias, combined journalism with his job as a taxi driver. As a Salvadoran national, he had been living in Honduras for over ten years, reporting on issues of public interest. This crime did not come out of nowhere. In September 2023, the dangers he faced were already apparent: he was kidnapped and threatened, forcing him to temporarily leave Santa Rosa de Copán. Later, he was incorporated into the National Protection Mechanism for Journalists,